This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/574960200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Provide expert electronics engineering, with digital signal processing specialization, to work with senior Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) instrument scientists. The incumbent will implement advanced analog-to-digital conversion technologies matched to ultra-high performance recording and computing platforms based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Graphics Processor Unit (GPU), and Central Processor Unit (CPU) technologies.
Learn more about this agency07/30/2020 to 02/26/2021
$121,243 - $157,614 per year
IS 14
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - May travel both domestically and internationally
No
Permanent - Indefinite Trust Appointment. This is not a Federal position.
Full-time - Full Time
Competitive
14
No
No
20-52
574960200
This position is open to all qualified US Citizens or US permanent Resident. First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date.
1. Contribute to the planning and implementation of an upgrade path to significantly increase the EHT’s observing sensitivity through improvements in sampled bandwidth, signal processing and recording throughput.
2. Help define the optimum architecture and technologies connecting ultra-fast (~20 gigasample-per-second) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) integrated circuit chips with correspondingly fast state-of-the-art digital signal processing (DSP) components such as FPGA’s and GPU’s.
3. Work with the development team to make key contributions to the detailed design, construction, testing and commissioning of a next general digital signal processing EHT platform, or building block, defined by the fully characterized ADC-DSP interfaced hardware.
4. Take a lead role in the development of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) configuration codes (“gateware”), using hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog, and MATLAB-Simulink. This includes writing high-level layers of control software in object-oriented languages such as Python and C++. Also, develop digital signal processing codes for GPU processors in languages such as CUDA and OpenCL.
5. Use the next generation ADC-DSP platform to develop the next generation EHT Digital Back End (DBE) and phased array platforms. The phased arrays are potentially to be deployed at the Submillimeter Array (SMA) in Hawaii in the first instance, and later possibly at the Atacama Large mm/Submm Array (ALMA) in Chile.
6. Participate in preparation of results of technical developments for publication in professional journals and for presentation at engineering or scientific conferences and technical symposia. Contribute to review meetings covering technical and scientific research and development.
7. Assist with the requirements definition of the overall ngEHT from a system engineering perspective, including traceability, testability, and documentation.
8. Perform other assignments as required.
Basic qualification requirements can be found at
https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/A/GS-PROF.asp and
https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/B/GS0800/0800.htm.
Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days after the closing date of announcement.
Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 13 level. Specialized experience such as analog and digital circuit design techniques, including low noise / low power analog, and digital to analog / analog to digital converter design with follow-up FPGA-based digital signal processing. Experience deriving specifications for complex, electronics boards and subsystems by flow-down analysis from higher-level instrument requirements. Experience with reliability design and system integration and test.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must:
(1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or
(2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
a combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. OR
Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. APPLICANT MUST LIST ALL COLLEGE COURSES.
In addition to meeting basic requirements, applicants must meet specialized experience. Specialized experience is defined above.
• The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
• A recruitment bonus may be paid.
• The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The online questionnaire will evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) below: Qualified candidates at both grade levels will be rated based upon the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
1. Mastery of, and skill in applying, advanced theories, concepts, and principles practiced in the science of professional electronics engineering. Advanced knowledge in digital hardware design and in evaluation of high performance digital circuitry, including in-depth experience with mixed signal electronic technologies, notably ultra-wide bandwidth (>20 gigasamples-per-second) analog-to-digital converters.
2. Advanced skills in wideband signal processing, with a radio astronomy focus being a significant plus.
3. Ability to program digital signal processing algorithms on FPGAs and GPUs using hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog, MATLAB-Simulink, and CUDA or OpenCL.
4. Ability to develop control programs under operating systems such as Linux or other Unix-like operating systems.
5. Ability and experience in systems and project engineering.
6. Strong oral and written communications skills. Skilled in preparing scientific results and instrument design details for publication in technical journals or for presentation at professional conferences. Skilled in preparing internal memos documenting applications of accepted practices for electronic design.
Your application package should include the
following documents:
This position has a mandatory education requirement; you must furnish a copy of your transcript of college work completed (unofficial copy is acceptable) or a copy of your degree certificate. Non-submission will result in you being rated ineligible for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
After you apply, you will receive an automated acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The staffing process to identify highly qualified candidates may take up to four weeks or more to complete. After the announcement closes and application reviews are done, you may be contacted by the hiring office if further evaluation or interviews are required. All applicants will receive written notification on the final outcome of the position.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/574960200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is part of what is arguably the largest and most diverse astrophysical institution in the world, where the staff carries out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics and earth and space sciences. If you would like to join this exciting organization, apply today!